By Dr Muhammed Rafeeque, Medical Officer, Dept. of Homeopathy, Kerala India.

Floating dispensary at Alappuzha. This dispensary is the most efficient way to access the villagers living in the mangroves of southern India. Pictured: Dr Isaac Golden, Dr Rafeeque, and Dr. Leena. Next to floating medical dispensary.            

Keywords: Epidemic, Prophylaxis, RAECH, Genus Epidemicus, repertorization

Abstract: RAECH is an epidemic management platform formed by the Department of Homeopathy, Govt of Kerala, for making the preventive and curative activities authentic and standardized. In Kerala state, all preventive medical camps are conducted as per the guidelines and leadership of RAECH.

Introduction: RAECH is the common platform for epidemic management formed by the Department of Homeopathy, Govt of Kerala, by obtaining a Govt. order in the year 2004 (G.O (Rt) No: 2543/04/H & FWD dated 07/09/2004). It includes Homeopathy department authorities in Kerala state, District medical officers and medical officers, experts from the Central research institute in Homeopathy, Kottayam (CCRH), Head of the department of Social and Preventive medicine from Homeopathic colleges, representatives from various Homeopathic organizations, private Homeopaths from the affected areas, and other experts in the filed of prophylaxis. RAECH has one administrative and one advisory body, both have committee in state level and district level as well. There is a state coordinator and many regional conveners appointed by the department for making the epidemic management effective, even under emergency situations with limited time schedule.

During epidemic threat, as per the reports from various sources, there will be a district level meeting, and then the team appointed will study the affected cases to select the Genus epidemicus by double repertorization. Finally, the state committee will officially announce the Genus epidemic for each area as per the report from the district level committee. The medicines will be given through various dispensaries and hospitals in government and private sector, also through medical camps arranged by the institutions and various organizations and individual homeopaths. There are also four boat dispensaries called Floating Homeopathic Dispensaries in places like Alappuzha where water transporting system is the only route to reach the remote islands. This area is often affected by epidemics, so boat dispensaries, which work on regular basis, will be also distributing Prophylaxis medicines along with treatment. In Kerala, all preventive medical camps are conducted as per the guidelines of RAECH. It is also mandatory to collect the feedbacks after every prophylaxis camps, which has to be submitted to the RAECH for record keeping and statistical analysis. All RAECH medical camps are funded by the various sectors of the government funds. There is always a good support from the central government, state government and local governments that govern the villages, towns and cities. After the formation of AYUSH ministry, now Homeopathy is getting more support from the government.

Till date, RAECH has successfully managed various epidemics in Kerala state, rendered remarkable services during epidemics like Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya, Chickenpox, Hepatitis A, Cholera, H1N1, Mumps, Conjunctivitis, etc.

 Objectives of RAECH: 

• Prevention and treatment of various epidemics
• Health awareness classes for public
• Reorientation Training Program for Homeopaths (ROTP)

Structure and function of RAECH

1. High Power Committee (HPC): State level body having executive power.

Structure:

• Chairperson – Director of Homeopathy
• Member- Senior most principal of Hom. Medical College
• Member- Deputy Director of Homoeopathy

Functions:

• Organize, co-ordinate, monitor and regulate preventive activities all over the state
• Financial and administrative responsibilities
• Liaison with government in all epidemic matters
• Collect and collate all data and formulate base line data

2. State Level Expert Group (SLEG): It is the state level advisory body

Structure

• Chairman – Deputy Director
• Project coordinator of RAECH
• Three experts from the profession
• HOD, Dept. of community medicine, GHMC, tvm
• Members of CRIH Kottayam
• Members from all Homeopathic organizations

Functions

• Develop projects and programs to combat epidemics
• Determine and authoritatively proclaim GE
• Liaison with the State Disease Surveillance Cell
• Liaison with the High Power Committee of RAECH
• Analyze activities, identify and rectify anomalies

3. District Level RAECH (DLR): It is the district level executive body

Structure

• Chairperson: District Medical Officer
• Superintendent/Senior CMO of the District
• Superintendent of District Medical office

Functions

• Organize, co-ordinate and monitor all Epidemic preventive activities in the district
• Financial and administrative responsibilities delegated by HPC-RAECH
• Liaison with the HPC, District authorities LSGI, Media
• Collect, collate and transfer all data to HPC

4. District Level Expert Group (DLEG): This is the district level advisory body

Structure

• Chairman -Dist. Medical Officer
• Senior Chief medical officer of the District
• HOD of Dept. of community medicine
• Members from Homeopathic organizations
• CMO/MO from the affected locality

Functions

• Help and support DLR
• Determine the preventive medicine and refer it timely to SLEG.
• Collect and collate the data including feed back studies and transfer it to DLR.
• Liaison with DLR

Kerala- A hub of Homeopathy: It was Homeopathic prophylaxis and treatment of epidemics that took the attention of public and political leaders of the state. After the success of Cholera epidemics, people started learning about the efficacy of Homeopathy in disease prevention and cure. During Cholera epidemics, thousands of people were saved by Homeopathic Camphor. After this result, the Kerala government accepted Homeopathy as a recognized system of medicine.

• Cholera epidemics in 1920s and 1940s
• Japanese Encephalitis in 1996
• Dengue in 2003, 2007
• Chikungunya in 2007, 2008
• Dengue 2009, 2010
• H1N1 in 2010
• Regular epidemics: Chickenpox, Conjunctivitis, Hepatitis A, Mumps, etc…

Evaluation survey on HP during Dengue epidemic fever in Kerala: A dengue fever epidemic occurred in Kerala during May – September 2007. More than 100000 people got affected. After studying the affected cases, HP selected by RAECH was Bryonia Alba 30c.

• Dose: 4 globules – Twice daily for 5 days
• Survey area: Evaluation survey conducted at 8 wards in 8 districts of Kerala, by SLEG, DLEG and Homeopathic Medical Colleges, under the guidance of HPC of RAECH.
• Door to door data collection done after giving HP

Number of persons who took HP:   

Protection rate:

Average protection rate: Average protective rate of all wards is 63.88%: Which means – The use of HP significantly reduce the risk of epidemic fever by 64%  Or, those who have used HP are 64% less likely to develop epidemic fever
than those who have not used it.

Protective Effect Calculated by Odds ratio (less than 1 is effective )

Services by the Dept. of Homeopathy: The department of Homeopathy is giving the following free services to the people. Any person, irrespective of their nationality can get the following free services by directly visiting the government dispensaries and hospitals.

1. Free treatment of acute and chronic diseases: District and Taluk hospitals, Dispensaries
2. Inpatient facility at District and Taluk Hospitals
3. Specialty clinics: Diabetic, Thyroid, Pediatric, De-addiction, Gynecology, Infertility, Renal calculi, Hepato-biliary, Anorectal clinics, etc.
4. Temporary clinics during pilgrimages, religious festivals and School fests
5. Rapid Action Epidemic Control Cell Homoeopathy (RAECH)
6. Sadgamaya: Adolescent health program
7. Seethalayam: Treatment for women
8. Ayushmanbhava: Treatment of Lifestyle diseases
9. Chethana, Malappuram: Treatment of cancer
10. Regional Epidemic Control program, Alappuzha
11. Floating Homoeopathic Dispensaries
12. Public awareness classes on Homeopathy 

Some suggestions: RAECH model can be implemented in other parts of the world by the supports of Government, Homeopathic organizations, Homeopathic institutions and general public. As a beginning, one common platform can be formed by selecting representatives from all homeopathic organizations, groups and homeopathic institutions.

Conclusion: Homeopathic prophylaxis is the best way to promote the system in the areas where system is not so popular. By making it more standardized by a team venture, we can get better results as well as valid data useful for proper documentation.

Bibliography:

1. Organon of medicine, Dr Hahnemann, B Jain, New Delhi.
2. Office records, Dept. of homeopathy, Govt. of Kerala
3. Office records, RAECH, Govt. of Kerala
4. RAECH Handbook, Dept of Homeopathy

Courtesy: 1. Dr Jamuna, Director of Homeopathy Department, Govt of Kerala.            2. Dr Leenarani, DMO, Ernakulam. 3. Dr Satheesh kumar, DMO, Alappuzha. 4. Dr Alex, in charge medical officer. 5. Dr Leena, Medical officer of Floating dispensary.

©Dr Muhammed Rafeeque, Medical Officer, Department of Homeopathy, Government of Kerala. Email: familyhpathy@gmail.com

About the author

Dr Muhammed Rafeeque is a Medical officer in the Department of Homeopathy, Govt. of Kerala. He is a well-known prescriber, an international speaker, author of many Homeopathic books and more than 150 articles and a worldwide promoter of Homeopathy. He has given lectures in many international seminars held in countries like Malaysia, Morocco, USA, Netherlands and various states of India.